As Yun Yi saw the enemy charging with fierce momentum, bearing the air of mutual destruction, he knew if he was actually hit, he’d be lucky to escape with just severe injury, if not death.

He moved with lightning speed, flipping a latch beneath his chair. A smooth panel on the console suddenly popped open, revealing a single red button. It was the emergency backup power activation switch. He slammed his hand down, engaging the auxiliary energy source.

“Evasive maneuver.”

At Zhong Yun’s sharp command, the Mercury slowly began to turn, swinging clear of the incoming trajectory. Over a hundred kilometers vanished in the blink of an eye. The flagship of the Gean Empire swept past, missing the Mercury by mere inches. Despite Zhong Yun’s outwardly calm demeanor, he broke out in a cold sweat.

The Mercury was now his greatest lifeline; its destruction or crippling damage would be an irreparable loss. In this precarious era of constant upheaval and raging warfare, merely surviving would become questionable.

Had it not been for Xiao Ling’s diligence in installing a small backup power source using ten Origin Stones on the Mercury, they might have capsized disastrously this time.

This world truly held peril at every turn. As the lingering fear subsided, a sharp sense of caution took root in Zhong Yun’s heart. From now on, he needed to be more careful than ever. He couldn't afford to see his entire force annihilated over some minor oversight.

He glanced up at the main screen, thinking, It’s over.

The two remaining combat-capable warships of the Gean Empire, including the flagship that had attempted a suicide run, were now completely enveloped by mechs. A fierce battle was raging.

Looking to the side, indeed, the warships that had previously been surrounded by mechs were almost entirely obliterated; they had arrived to provide support.

He checked the count of the optical brain mechs. Over 1.5 million remained. Nearly half a million had been lost in this engagement. It seemed the Gean Empire’s military was quite formidable. Too bad they lacked true combat experience. Facing emotionless war machines like the optical brain mechs, swift defeat was inevitable.

Losing half a million mechs didn’t particularly concern Zhong Yun. Five hundred thousand was merely a few days’ production output from the Lanssen Empire’s bases.

Although the overall situation was decided, Zhong Yun dared not relax his guard completely. He signaled Xiao Ling, directing the assisting Mars to proceed to Davo to pick up the people, while he remained behind to help ensure the complete eradication of the Gean Empire’s warships before he could feel secure.

Receiving Zhong Yun’s order, the Mars turned, heading for Vol. They didn't have much time; the Gean Empire’s reinforcements would arrive before long. Zhong Yun was keen to avoid another engagement with them. They needed to evacuate the personnel first, then vanish into the void.

It was nighttime over the city of Vol. The battle in outer space had already alerted the high command on Davo. Although the satellites in space had long been destroyed by the Gean Empire, they still maintained dedicated personnel using high-powered telescopes to monitor the movements of the Gean fleet.

The moment the Mercury launched its surprise attack, the monitoring personnel rushed a report to the Presidential Palace.

The Presidential Palace at this time was effectively controlled by the major noble houses. Although the Yang family had given prior warning, they never expected anyone would actually dare offend the Gean Empire by coming to their aid.

Seeing a sliver of hope amidst despair, everyone was ecstatic. But their brief burst of joy was instantly doused by a bucket of icy water.

The arrival of only one warship plunged them instantly back into hopelessness. The Gean Empire fleet numbered fifty-seven vessels. To face fifty-seven with one was akin to striking a rock with an egg.

Only the heads of the three most prominent families remained rock-steady.

These three were the most powerful factions on Davo: the Yang family, known as the "Marshal Family"; the Guan family, the "Presidential Family"; and the Zhang family, the "Gold Family."

Their titles revealed their dominance: the Yangs controlled the military, the Guans controlled the Presidential Palace, and the Zhangs controlled finance, forming Davo’s highest structure of power.

The leaders of the three families were seasoned, cunning figures. Seeing Yang Bingchang looking so assured, as if he held all the cards and remained firmly in control, the Guan and Zhang leaders exchanged dubious glances, wondering where his confidence stemmed from.

Though they had spent a lifetime maneuvering against each other, facing imminent catastrophe forced them into a unified front. Naturally, neither would undermine Yang Bingchang, and they maintained equally self-assured expressions.

Little did they know that Yang Bingchang’s anxiety was at its peak. He had schemed for his family for a lifetime, and now, facing this reality, he recognized it was beyond salvation, thus paradoxically feeling a sense of release. It wasn't for lack of effort; it was sheer impotence. Against the Gean Empire, Davo was little more than an ant; struggling would only hasten their demise.

His deepest worry was for his daughter. He had been overjoyed a few days prior when Zhong Yun confirmed Yun Qi was safe. With Yun Qi, the Yang bloodline would not be severed, and with Zhong Yun’s vast capabilities, their children would surely lead the Yang family to greater glory.

Now, Zhong Yun had taken such an astonishing risk merely to rescue Davo’s people. Guilt and gratitude mixed with overwhelming worry. If Zhong Yun were lost here too, the Yang family would truly be finished.

While Zhong Yun was certainly not rash—based on his understanding of him, if he dared to come, he must have high confidence—the opponent was the Gean Empire, leaving Yang Bingchang deeply unsettled.

The subordinates who observed the unshakeable composure of the three leaders grew uneasy. Could that single vessel truly be so heaven-defying as to defeat fifty-seven Gean warships?

Though a flicker of hope sparked within them, the moment they recalled the Gean Empire, that slight yearning was instantly extinguished. As high-ranking officials in Davo, they were acutely aware of the sheer magnitude of the Gean Empire.

Yet, the unfolding battle defied belief. That single vessel smashed through the enemy fleet like a hot knife through butter, destroying over a dozen enemy ships in succession. The Gean Empire, which they considered utterly invincible, seemed incapable of mounting any effective resistance.

When the Mercury finally delivered a full-salvo finishing blow, everyone felt as if they were dreaming. The Gean Empire... had actually been defeated? This reality delivered a profound shock to their sensibilities.

The fastest to react were the Guan and Zhang leaders. They shot to their feet, completely disregarding the others present, seizing their communicators simultaneously. “Attention everyone! Set sail immediately!”

It turned out these two had received prior notice from Yang Bingchang. Though they harbored doubts about his ability to secure an evacuation route, they had made preparations nonetheless. In desperation, even the tiniest straw must be grasped without hesitation.

They had split their family members into two contingents: one proceeded as agreed to Yang Bingchang’s designated rendezvous point, while the other boarded their family starships, ready to launch at a moment’s notice.

Now, seeing the utter annihilation of the Gean fleet, they ordered their family vessels to depart immediately. If they delayed until the Gean reinforcements arrived, escape would be impossible.

Everyone present who had managed to reach this level was sharp enough to grasp their intentions immediately. They scrambled for their communicators, instructing their families to pack up and leave without delay.

The meeting room of the Presidential Palace erupted into pandemonium. The usually composed, dignified high-ranking nobles completely abandoned their composure, shouting into their communicators.

In the room, only Yang Bingchang remained still. He sat upright, his eyes fixed on the main screen—the feed from the high-powered electronic binoculars. On the screen, the vessel, massive as an unbreakable fortress, delivered the final strike to the Gean flagship, turning it into a blaze of light.

Yang Bingchang’s gaze drifted slightly. He realized he had not misjudged the man. He suddenly reflected that entrusting Yun Qi to Zhong Yun had been the wisest decision of his entire life.

The Mars arrived at an open field in the eastern suburbs of Vol City, where over a million people waited. A massive cheer erupted from the crowd upon seeing the colossal Mars descend.

A million people crammed together—the sight was incredibly grand. Even with Davo’s organizational capability, gathering a million people here had been an arduous task, fortunately only lasting a few days.

The scene was chaotic, but Yang Bingchang had prepared for this, dispatching large numbers of troops to maintain order.

Once the Mars landed, all its hatches opened, guiding the people inside.

Meanwhile, the Mercury, having dealt with the remaining warships, also landed in Mingzhou City, guiding its passengers aboard. Those gathered in Mingzhou City were mostly scions of the Yang family, along with the Chen family led by Chen Wen, and the Zhang family led by Zhang Xiao.

Zhong Yun was certain that the vast majority here were members of the noble houses. But there was no helping that; in Davo, the noble houses always commanded the lion's share of resources.

Of course, he wasn't worried about being sidelined. Everything ultimately came down to strength. He held absolute control over the Mercury and the Mars; no matter what schemes they harbored, they wouldn't get far.

Beyond the noble scions, the rest were undoubtedly the elite of society. These were the people Zhong Yun urgently needed. Although Davo was only in the first phase of intermediate civilization with limited technological levels, it lacked nothing in terms of technology. A mere fraction of data from Xiao Ling’s database could trigger a qualitative leap for these individuals.

The Mercury was massive, capable of holding tens of millions. One million was a trivial number, but time was limited. After absorbing roughly 1.5 million people, they began closing the hatches, preparing for departure.

Some Mingzhou citizens who had heard the news and rushed over watched the scene, screaming loudly. Countless people ran after the Mercury, desperate to jump aboard.

Zhong Yun turned his face away, unable to watch the scene, whispering inwardly, I have done my best.

Carrying over a million people each, the Mercury and the Mars launched almost simultaneously, heading out into the vastness of the cosmos.

“Yun, my father didn't come…” Yun Qi stood at the doorway, her bright, intelligent eyes filled with sorrow, leaning helplessly against the frame.

Zhong Yun’s heart ached. He walked over and pulled her into his embrace, his mouth opening and closing several times, unsure how to offer comfort. Finally, he sighed, “We must respect his choice, the old man’s choice…”

It was not just Yang Bingchang; the leaders of the Zhang and Guan families had also chosen not to board the ships, opting to remain on Davo.

Their decision commanded Zhong Yun’s utmost respect. At the nation's most dangerous hour, they had not fled but chose to stand by their world until the end. This was a quality rarely seen.

The Gean Empire’s fleet had indeed pursued them. Though he couldn't see the enemy vessels, Zhong Yun could sense their presence. However, he wasn't overly worried. The universe was vast; no matter how large the Gean fleet, they couldn't search every corner.

Xiao Ling’s navigation route was extremely clandestine, deliberately avoiding the main shipping lanes. If they were still intercepted, it could only mean Zhong Yun was exceptionally unlucky.

With so many new people aboard the ships, there was much work to be done. Fortunately, a management team had been established beforehand, arranging everything in perfect order—a testament to the advanced system of the Mercury.

Zhong Yun calculated: over two million brought from the Death Zone, nearly a million from Qiyun Star, and close to three million evacuated from Davo. He now commanded a total of over six million people.

Six million was a small population for an entire nation, but Zhong Yun was already contemplating the future.

As a collective, these six million required an effective system of governance. These people originated from three different locations, and if they could not integrate smoothly, serious trouble might arise. Moreover, the number under his command would only increase. If a solution wasn't found quickly, disorder could easily erupt later.

Zhong Yun pondered the issue, first consulting with Xiao Ling, and then inviting his parents to discuss the matter.

Since moving to Qiyun Star, Zhong Pingjiang had already begun contemplating this very issue. However, for the first two years, Zhong Yun had focused solely on enhancing his strength, and in the subsequent years, he was constantly away, leaving no opportunity for discussion. Now that Zhong Yun sought his counsel, it was exactly what his father desired.

Zhong Pingjiang’s opinion was clear: establish a nation. With their current strength, founding a country was more than sufficient. The population was a bit sparse, but that wasn't a major obstacle. They could find a natural planet, develop for a few decades, and with appropriate policies, the population would naturally grow.

As a powerful figure who once established a conglomerate, Zhong Pingjiang deeply understood the importance of centralized authority. His proposal was to establish a nation where the Zhong Clan, centered around Zhong Yun, formed the highest ruling body—essentially, royalty.

Zhong Yun understood his father’s intention. Having originated from a noble house, his lifelong aspiration had been to revitalize the family, and his mindset was rooted in clannish structures.

Zhong Yun had no objection to this premise. As long as the ultimate power remained firmly in his hands, titles like President, Emperor, or King were irrelevant. Since this was his father’s vision, Zhong Yun accepted it.

With the fundamental structure settled, Zhong Yun unveiled the framework for the administrative system he and Xiao Ling had drafted. This was the most critical part, involving the distribution of authority.

Unquestionably, the military would remain tightly controlled by Zhong Yun, followed by Personnel and Finance—the two most vital departments.

However, a new problem immediately surfaced: the Zhong family was drastically small. Besides Zhong Pingjiang, only Zhong Yun himself could take on significant roles; Yun Rong was a partial fit. Zhong Yu was only two, requiring at least twenty years before he could manage affairs. Yun Qi was practically family, but she disliked governance. If they were generously included, Yu Daoqing, Xiao Ruo, and Wei Wei could also be counted among the Zhong lineage. Even with them, manpower was stretched thin.

The scale was manageable now, but what about the future? This presented a significant underlying risk that could lead to serious turmoil within the collective.

Zhong Pingjiang frowned, recognizing this major hurdle. Being an only child who had come to Davo alone to fight his way up, he had no collateral relatives. The entire Zhong family had barely two people capable of leadership—hardly reassuring news for a dynasty, especially a royal one.

Zhong Pingjiang looked at Zhong Yun with profound seriousness. “Xiao Yun, I am now giving you a task. Whatever means you must employ, give me as many children as you possibly can.”

P: Recommending a new book, Cook Blood (Title number, 113). Cook: The commitment of a passionate youth. Blood: The struggle on the path of a strongman. Cook Blood: The struggle of a passionate youth balanced between the roles of a chef and a warrior. He possesses an arrogant nature, yet harbors a delicate heart; he is ruthless, yet does not kill wantonly.